Snow budget buried under season's heavy snowfalls

A rash of snowstorms early in the season has brought local snow budgets to the breaking point.

Staff Reporter

BROCKTON – This wild winter has spawned a new formula to figure how much snow has fallen in the city.

The snowfall is not measured in inches but instead in dollars. By this formula, about $2 million worth of snow has been dumped on the city so far. Or, at least, that's how much it has cost to clean it all up.

As of Wednesday, the Department of Public Works had expended almost their entire $2,358,000 snow budget, and Thursday's mix of snow and rain was likely to put the department over the top, said John Condon, Brockton's chief financial officer.

"The bulk of that money is for outside contracting, some of it is for overtime," Condon said.

In a request to brought before the City Council's Finance Committee next Monday, DPW Commissioner Michael Thoreson is seeking permission to expend up to an additional $1 million to keep Brockton's roads and sidewalks clear for the rest of the winter.

To cover the additional expenses, Condon said that the city would need to find the funds in other accounts, or more likely, factor the extra $1 million into next year's budget.

This problem is not unique to Brockton.

"Mine was over the top weeks ago," said Stoughton's DPW Superintendent John Batchelder on his $245,615 snow budget.

Batchelder added that he is currently nearing the $500,000 mark for snow-related costs this season.

"We're all in the same boat because all cities and towns no longer increase their snow budgets anymore," said Batchelder.

Because local governments can only exceed their appropriated snow budgets if they are funded at the same level or higher than the previous fiscal year, most municipalities simply budget the same amount from year to year, said Batchelder

As a result, Batchelder said that he has needed extra funding 10 out of the last 12 years.

Thursday's weather certainly did not help the situation.

Between bouts of pouring rain, Brockton received about an inch of snow on Thursday, said Bill Simpson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's facility in Taunton.

Simpson added that the slushy mix of rain and snow put Brockton at an additional risk for "poor urban drainage flooding," which occurs when snow clogs storm drains causing water to pool in the streets, particularly at intersections.

For residents hoping the weekend might bring a reprieve from the inclement weather, disappointment -- and more snow -- are likely in the future.

Simpson said that Brockton is forecast to receive an additional two to three inches of snow beginning late tonight and extending into Saturday evening.